Huge Disappointment
- Thread starter Dre
- Start date
Think you have misunderstood me .... I saw plenty of cool stuff ... so I have no complaints (if you read above, I was happy with the show). What I was responding to was what Goby was saying about the kids being the wrong audience (as I understood him) ... therefore all I am saying is that the sponsors can still bring large skimmers, reactors, pulsating wave-makers (as they did) which will appeal to the enthusiast but may go over the "kids" heads ... but it will still get the kids asking questions and getting interested. The sponsors will be happy with both ... the seasoned enthusiasts who are keen on the new technology etc .... AND the kids who will be more about "wow! that's cool" .... or am I wrong ?
That's what I was saying.
So, as for your question .... nothing in particular .... ok ?
Honestly, yea the expo was a bit of a let down. I am new to the hobby and was kinda cool that I could bring some family to see what my tank can look like later and in time. There just wasn't that much for them to see.. some tanks were empty, I understand what kind of work may be needed to transport a tank. But that is the whole point of an expo.. Could have had more sponsors and specials/ promotions maybe
All my family and friends saw, was how much the equipment would cost and wasn't quite impressed about the amount of money I was going to spend. They think I have too much money to spend now
What was cool was the salt from Aquafin, quite a bargain. Haven't used the salt yet, cause I still have a tub of Seachem salt, but thought I would get some for the future.
All my family and friends saw, was how much the equipment would cost and wasn't quite impressed about the amount of money I was going to spend. They think I have too much money to spend now
What was cool was the salt from Aquafin, quite a bargain. Haven't used the salt yet, cause I still have a tub of Seachem salt, but thought I would get some for the future.
I took my father and a friend with, I think they were quite shocked by some of the prices.
Schools not the answer..... Same problem lies with regard to unpacking and packing livestock etc with limited time.
Schools do charge fees for using their halls, elctricity, ablutions, water etc.
When using a school hall, one attracts the specific community surrounding the school....
Spoke to numerous "newbies" who did go, they all liked it as they had an oppurtunity to gain knowledge, see products they do not always see at their local lfs, and they mingled with more experienced aquarists...
The Expo is a great accomplishment for South Africa done by enthusiastic aquarists from South Africa..
As Dallas mentioned... It CAN only get better.. The expo needs to be run as business, and business takes time to grow.
If one found the expo dissapointing due to hardware being the same as what they normally see at their lfs, then you are one of the fortunate few, as a lot of others do not have the privelage to see good saltwater hardware from where they come from.
If one found the speakers boring, it means you know just about everything there is to know about reefkeeping and need not go there to listen to the speakers..... Rather put your name down and become a speaker for the next expo.
If you went there for livestock only.... Wrong place, it is an expo, not a livestock show...
I think the Expo is/was a huge success, and need to carry on in years to come.....
One will never satisfy everyone....
MY 2 CENTS...............
Schools do charge fees for using their halls, elctricity, ablutions, water etc.
When using a school hall, one attracts the specific community surrounding the school....
Spoke to numerous "newbies" who did go, they all liked it as they had an oppurtunity to gain knowledge, see products they do not always see at their local lfs, and they mingled with more experienced aquarists...
The Expo is a great accomplishment for South Africa done by enthusiastic aquarists from South Africa..
As Dallas mentioned... It CAN only get better.. The expo needs to be run as business, and business takes time to grow.
If one found the expo dissapointing due to hardware being the same as what they normally see at their lfs, then you are one of the fortunate few, as a lot of others do not have the privelage to see good saltwater hardware from where they come from.
If one found the speakers boring, it means you know just about everything there is to know about reefkeeping and need not go there to listen to the speakers..... Rather put your name down and become a speaker for the next expo.
If you went there for livestock only.... Wrong place, it is an expo, not a livestock show...
I think the Expo is/was a huge success, and need to carry on in years to come.....
One will never satisfy everyone....
MY 2 CENTS...............
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My friend thought that big skimmer was cool until the guy told him the price.
Talking of golf I overheard someone at the expo saying he had to give up golf to be able to afford a marine tank.
My friend thought that big skimmer was cool until the guy told him the price.
Talking of golf I overheard someone at the expo saying he had to give up golf to be able to afford a marine tank.
I would personally much rather build a tank, stock it, clean it and keep it going than hit a ball and then try to find it....
hehehe CheriS, thats exactly what i was thinking on the otherside of the world, from what i saw and heard i would have loved to be there.
I was not at the this expo but here are my thoughts anyway.
I don't think a tie-in with a home expo is the right way to go. All you are doing there really is providing a meeting place for current marine enthusiasts (those that frequent MASA) and the odd walk-in bored husband/wife that is not really interested at looking at more furniture. I can understand sponsors not really wantitng to lay out huge amounts of money for a social gathering as most of the attendees already know about them through the forums. Sponsors need to raise awareness amongst the general public - not to convert the already converted.
I think a tie-in with a pet expo would be much better eg. World of Dogs and Cats (World of Dogs Cats) or one of the Reptile Shows eg JHB Exotic Pets and Reptile expo. At these types of shows many of our sponsors already exhibit so it would not cost them more money (more effort yes) to also include marine items.
The advantage of this is that there are plenty of animal/pet lovers going to these types of shoes (the few reptile ones I have been too are always packed). These are the types of people that will more willingly embrace a new hobby.
Myself I went to a Pet Expo about 12 years ago and saw my first proper marine set-up (it was a tank by Exotics) and this planted the seed for me to get into the hobby. When I eventually decided to start my own tank, Exotics was the company thet sold me my first set-up - so they did not get a sale that day, only a few years later, but the thing was that my interest was piqued.
I don't think a tie-in with a home expo is the right way to go. All you are doing there really is providing a meeting place for current marine enthusiasts (those that frequent MASA) and the odd walk-in bored husband/wife that is not really interested at looking at more furniture. I can understand sponsors not really wantitng to lay out huge amounts of money for a social gathering as most of the attendees already know about them through the forums. Sponsors need to raise awareness amongst the general public - not to convert the already converted.
I think a tie-in with a pet expo would be much better eg. World of Dogs and Cats (World of Dogs Cats) or one of the Reptile Shows eg JHB Exotic Pets and Reptile expo. At these types of shows many of our sponsors already exhibit so it would not cost them more money (more effort yes) to also include marine items.
The advantage of this is that there are plenty of animal/pet lovers going to these types of shoes (the few reptile ones I have been too are always packed). These are the types of people that will more willingly embrace a new hobby.
Myself I went to a Pet Expo about 12 years ago and saw my first proper marine set-up (it was a tank by Exotics) and this planted the seed for me to get into the hobby. When I eventually decided to start my own tank, Exotics was the company thet sold me my first set-up - so they did not get a sale that day, only a few years later, but the thing was that my interest was piqued.
butcherman
Moderator
Everyone is saying go with another expo which is all good and well. The other side of the story is the cost per sqaure meter. Alot of guys didnt come to this one stating the "cost factor" was to much (we had already negotiated a discounted rate with eventx.) I do not even want to know what the cost is per square meter at the dome...
Most likely cheaper at the dome that stands empty most of the year than at a Casino busy all year round...
Give them a buzz and see....
Main Arena Facilities
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Like I mentioned above - quite a few of the sponsors already exhibit at other Pet Expo's so it would not cost them much more to also include marines.
I do think more sponsors woudl be happier though to pay a bit more to exhibit if the right types of people were attracted to the show i.e. pet enthusiasts.
I'd actually like to hear the sponsors/exhibitors thoughts though as I could be way off base.
the dome is actually more...theres a pet expo there in october
OK, so we have a word from a sponsor that exhibits very frequently at the other expos.
butcherman
Moderator
@Quinton trust me we did our homework..... perhaps guys need to start asking why didnt more lfs come? Clearly from the dissapointment of wanting to see more the public want this kind of thing.
I do not know weather the wholesalers who didnt show dont think it is important, or the show is to expensive or what. But as the punlic and customers who Clearly want to see more of this sort of thing, We need to ask everyone to participate. No exhibitors means a smaller more dissapointing show.
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Only from this year expo's have been/are merging reptiles and "fish" ... which has also been a risk for both organiser and exhibitor ... an all time reptile expo could now have just 3 "fish tank" exhibitors ana the fish geeks could find it a disappointing expo,but the reptile guys wont stop ranting and raving... i know as ive done a good few of them... just like everything else we do ,we are still "young" with alot of things compared to overseas and most of it for now will be trial and error... ok,then price.... with some expo,the organisers make money just off the stands and the guys they piggy back gets the entrance fees...other expo give good rates on stands as it is only them organising and they make money off the door...so yeah there aint no set way or soloution besides trial and error ... and each situation is different...might sound easy to say rather do this rather do that..but in reality only the guys organising know it aint so easy....